28th birthday | questions and answers

Happy Monday!! I can’t believe it took me this long to get this blog post up, you guys. I know I promised this post last week but with all the last minute holiday shopping and birthday surprises, I just didn’t get the chance! Thank you so much for being patient with me and thanks again for those that wished me happy birthday! It was such a great weekend and I’m so excited to share my 28 Q&A series with you (finally)!! I pulled these questions from my direct messages and emails– I think I got everyone! 💜 I hope you all enjoy this post and if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask!! Chat soon, loves! 😘

28 Q&A

Did tape-in extensions damage your hair?

I did lose a bit of hair, that’s for sure. The extent of damage generally with tape-in extensions or any other kind really depends on how they are inserted and who takes them out. I was lucky to have someone very experienced and she was gentle when taking out my tape-ins but I can definitely feel WAY less hair on my head and it could take 1-2 years to grow back from the root!

How are you liking LA?

LA has been good to us so far although I wish we chose a different apartment complex!!! Our specific one has way too many pest issues so we will likely look into somewhere new when our lease ends. However, the city is so great and everyone I’ve met has been incredibly sweet and helpful people here. It’s pretty easy doing shoots since the weather is always nice (which is a big reason why we chose LA instead of NY) but I do miss seasons a bit!

Do you have eyelash extensions? Your lashes look more voluminous in your recent posts.

Nope! I just put in falsies for a few shoots but that’s it. I hear lash extensions require a bit of maintenance and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that commitment quite yet!

Are you taking the BAR exam in California?

I wish I had a more definite answer for y’all on this one but at this time, I’m not sure! I know I won’t be taking it in February so if I do take it it’ll be in July and I’ll make that decision in the next couple of months!

Where did you get your most recent shelves?! I need them!

Target!! It was seriously the best purchase I’ve made because the shelves brought out our couch and added definition to the whole living room. You can get them here!

Do you wash your hair everyday?

Definitely not!! My hair gets oily quick so I used to shower everyday back 2-3 years ago. However, my hairstylist told me that your scalp produces great natural oils and it’s not good to strip it out every single day. I now wash my about 3 times a week and just dry shampoo in between!

Does your husband like Taylor Swift as much as you?

Hah, this question is just too good!! The answer is no no no. We actually have the exact opposite taste– he likes dance music (trance, deep house, strange music with no words), classical, chillout, 90s hip-hop, and a whole bunch of other random stuff but I’m all about modern hip-hop and pop mainstream songs with more lyrics. We do always support each other no matter what though and go to any concert for each other– that’s love, right?!

What do you use to edit your Instagram photos?

Lightroom usually. If I’m in a rush, I’ll do with VSCO and Instagram filters but I try and stick with a preset on Lightroom for consistency purposes.

Do you normally just go shopping for an entire outfit every time or do you mix and match?

I mix and match for sure!! Sometimes I’ll find a cute top and pair it with shoes and jeans that I already own. It’s super important to invest in basics that you can wear over and over again (i.e. a great pair of jeans).

How tall are you?

5’4″

How does fostering dogs work?

I LOVE THIS QUESTION AND I’M SO HAPPY TO ANSWER IT!! As most of you know, animal shelters are FULL of dogs and cats that are either lost, abandoned or surrendered by their previous owners. Depending on the state, those animals are given a certain amount of time to live before they are euthanized. There are some no-kill shelters, but don’t get me wrong more often than not you’re going to run into a shelter that kills so that they can make room for other incoming animals. It’s the sad truth and that’s why I always promote #adoptdontshop because buying for pet stores is the WORST thing anyone can ever do! However, I’m getting off topic so let me answer the question, hah! Since shelters are overpopulated, there are rescue groups that work so hard in pulling animals that are in desperate need and they help find that animal a forever home. You, as a foster, temporarily provide a home for that dog or cat! You literally just provide a loving home and care and that’s it. A lot of rescue groups will cover the cost of any vet bills, food, heartworm preventative and all of that so you really just have to give them a home. On weekends, you would simply do your best to attend an adoption event and drop the dog/cat there so that they can be seen in public eye in hopes of getting adopted.

It’s that simple, you guys. Google rescue groups near you and they’ll tell you more about how they run their program!! It’s so rewarding knowing you’re helping save a life!

I see so many throws in your Instagram Stories. Which one is your favorite?

What do you do to stay focused? I work from home as well and find myself being easily distracted and not productive throughout the day.

To be honest, I’m still trying to figure it out myself. I have found two things that have really worked for me and one of it is creating a to-do list the night before. I run through all the things I need to accomplish tomorrow and write it all down. I’ll have mini ‘deadlines’ that would say something like: complete blog post by 12pm. The second thing that has helped me is actually taking time to step outside and work. Creativity wise, sometimes it gets pretty hard coming up with new content and inspiring posts for you guys if I’m sitting and staring at the same desk and wall. I’ve recently stepped out by our apartment pool to work there or maybe even a coffee shop nearby!

What do you use to stay organized?

iCal and a good ol’ fashioned excel spreadsheet. I’ve always been relatively good at excel with my finance background so that’s helped me big time in creating very useful spreadsheets for keep track of all things work-related!

Can you tell us more about Roofus?

Our sweet little Roofus had a bit of rough past. The rescue group I fostered with in Dallas told us that Roofus was abused by his previous owner by forcing him to wear a bark collar and never giving him much love or affection. The previous owner claimed Roofus bit her child and gave the dog up at a local shelter which is where Roofus got picked up by the rescue group. He actually never visited a vet up until we got him and had to be fully shave down as his hair was matted and skin was not doing so well. Roofus does have some behavioral issues (i.e. food aggressive and can growl if feeling cornered) but that’s understandable given his past and it’ll likely take 6-7 months before he feels comfortable and loved. We’re hoping a stable home with all the love and attention will help him forget about his past! He’s SO friendly to others though has quickly learned tons of commands. Smart cookie, he is!

I’m coming to Los Angeles soon, what hotel do you recommend?

Loews Hollywood for sure!! We had the best time there!

What size do you wear?

XS usually!

What do you use to curl your hair?

For the most part, I use my t3 whirl trio! My curls last to the next day and it’s great– you can get it here!

What camera do you use for your pictures?

We got the Canon 5D Mark IV and it’s been GREAT to us so far!! We started out using a basic dslr (nikon d3300) and that was a really good start-up camera for us!

Do you own any designer bags?

I have one– its a YSL crossbody that my sweet mother-in-law gifted to me! I’m pretty minimalistic when it comes to owning designer things– I like to have a few but not over do it. That may change when I’m older but that’s the stage I’m at in my life right now!! 🙂

Who’s your favorite blogger/YouTuber?

Teni Panosian and Sazan Hendrix for sure!

Do you do gel nails or dip powder?

Well, lately I’ve just being using regular nail polish from Essie and it lasts me about a good week! I started out using gel and noticed it would damage my nails quite a bit. I switched to dip powder and I liked it a lot more so I do that every few months. It still damages my nails which is why I don’t get that done on a regular basis. I try and give my nails a break since apparently they are weak sauce and can’t handle much!

What’s your go-to makeup product that you can’t live without?

Nars radiant creamy concealer for SUREEEEEE!! I have the worst dark circles (genetics). I don’t leave the house without my chapstick though– not really makeup but still!

What’s your favorite moisturizer?

Sunday Riley tidal brightening enzyme water cream. Yea, that’s a lot! I’ve been using it for years and it’s GOLD. However, being a blogger I love trying out new things so I’m trying out Charlotte Tilbury’s magic cream now and seeing how that does for my skin in the winter!

Why did you stop giveaways?

I wouldn’t say I stopped– I just don’t do them as frequently anymore as I used to! I love doing the massive, loop giveaways and I also love doing small, close-knit ones too. I feel like it’s best to mix them up for your audience and your overall growth too! I haven’t done a massive one in a couple of months only because it started to become an investment (sponsors would charge quite a bit) and financially it made sense to just cut down and do them less frequently. However, I decided to change things up a bit by creating and hosting my very own Friends themed giveaway after SO many of you guys said you’d like one!! I’ll have that go live this week so keep an eye out, it’s definitely one you don’t want to miss!!

Can you post more sale finds?

I can, yes! I do my best to incorporate a few good sales throughout each week but I’m always hesitant for two reasons. One, I don’t want to seem too pushy like a salesman because I can definitely see that happening. Two, I love creating unique content for you guys and sharing my favorites and if I focus 100% on sales, I see myself completely losing sight of why I started my blog to begin with. However, since quite a few of you are asking, I’ll do my best to incorporate more things that I find to help make your shopping experience easier!

Are you enjoying cooking now?

Kind of!! I try and cook 4x a week and have dinner ready before the hubs comes home from work. I do enjoy coming up with creative recipes and adding my own kick to it. However, I don’t like chopping up veggies AT ALL– that’s my least favorite part of cooking.

What can we see more of in 2018?

MORE YOUTUBE VIDEOS!! Growing my YouTube channel and posting a video on a weekly basis is one of my New Year’s goals and I really hope I can stick to it!! I love recording videos and editing those more than I like just posting still photos. Videos allow me to be more creative, think outside of the box and show my personality a bit more! 🙂 If you want to subscribe to my YouTube channel, here’s the link!

About Me

Hey y'all and welcome to my blog (aka my baby!). I'm Nita and I'm here to help you find the latest trends, the best deals and inspire you along the way as I pursue my dream as an influencer out here in Los Angeles, California. Don't worry though, I'll always be a Texas girl at heart and you can count on that southern hospitality over here at Next With Nita!